Green & Gold FC Podcast #3 – SMFC Mike & Pete

[Pasquali]

We’re joined by two of the most passionate and outspoken voices in Australian football—South Melbourne Mike (@smfcmike) and South Melbourne Pete (@SMEMUFC).

For decades, Australian football has been caught in the battle between "old football" and "new football." Few voices have been louder—or prouder—than those from South Melbourne. Mike and Pete have never shied away from questioning the game’s direction.

We dive into their early memories of South Melbourne FC, the club’s golden era, the NSL’s demise, the transition to the NPL, and what the future holds. Love them or hate them, their takes are raw, unfiltered, and essential listening for any Australian football fan.

 

[LFC]

Thanks Pascuali and Graz if I'm right there.......

Well well not being on SM ala insta and all that crap no accounts unlike many of of you but for being able to view a click/link here and there and looking in at rabbit/reddit the old 442 was really my only football medium to learn and read goss and mentions of other supporters I never heard of.
Therefore I finally get to hear what/who smfcmike is and smemufc Pete though your new to me.
Welcome fellas great you being part of the GG podcast and I hope you guys participate in the general forum in the future.

Got to say alot that hasn't been discussed robustly might I add our days back in 442 amongst posters here and we carry on with it obviously but all good listenning for some of the younger supporters that don't go back that far instead of reading whats on the net that is quite biased and doesn't fill alot of issues that occured leading and into early days of the AL.
The Hill mention for eg and their directives was disgusting for eg.
Nice to hear I am just over an hour into it and enjoy the discussion for as many know I have been a staunch supporter of ol sockha getting back out of the dark and imo rightly so.
Enjoy hearing of your early backgrounds, with Dad, the grounds, the other Club mentions, the atmosphere and the Dukes mention.
This is our aussie migrant football DNA.

Some points mentioned that hit my nerve but not new.

Culture, without a doubt what its all about and what supporters thrive on and enhances the rivalries amongst other good things that make the experience and club passion you follow.
There is so much to recover its all there, Mike mentions re his kids, mine similar.
They luv football but its not the same as we grew up when the ol clubs were the main top comp, we've lost 2 gens at least, they have not invested in AL, they tried can't relate to a made up club type of platform.
All these kids/young adults so so many follow euro leagues, do we/they see any new Clubs formatted out of the blue generally ? no.

Yep football is a business it can't run on the passion of invested local business owners alone as before but importantly those people have total commitment in the Club to succeed in the comps involved, they bleed for the badge, they are 110% committed.
Whereas Franchising there is always a Franchisee/'s that its just another side investment of their portfolio therefore they keep distance from its overall operations, just look at the P&L - perfect recent and current examples are PG/BR/Jets, look at how the varied owners have managed their investment, what does it enhance for the supporter base ? most case's drives them away and here they are.
Roller coaster of a ride for supporters And not good for the Jnr/parents levels below thinking WTF should I bother the place is going nowhere what is it offering me/us.
In alot of case's our current models drive alot of promising kids to the other 2 main codes now throw in basketball, not enough spaces, no 2nd Div comp to go into.

There were more good points brought up but above is a start I like to express thanks to you 3 guys in the podcast.

 

[LFC]

ah the PG and Perth mention of originally very anglo and potential ethnic growth to service.
Agree wholeheartedly.
Nothing against PG for as mentioned has been a mighty Club past to present despite their ownership and hassles.
Point is Perth has just that Club in the spot light which is a huge shame but I get the logistics really and the other main hurdle to compete west to east financially.
The mention of the other aussie migrants living there not having a club that has the opportunity to draw them in and naturally look to get in the position of joining the NST.
Wouldn't that be great.
Yer plenty aussie born ethnic backgrounds no diff to east.
My wife comes from where CR7 was born bred, his grandparents live in Perf.
The Sydney Madeira Club in Marrickville I know have intentions/hopes one day trying to get him to visit Oz.
Imagine the exposure that would stir up for he'd definately get to Perf.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

We’re joined by two of the most passionate and outspoken voices in Australian football—South Melbourne Mike (@smfcmike) and South Melbourne Pete (@SMEMUFC).

For decades, Australian football has been caught in the battle between "old football" and "new football." Few voices have been louder—or prouder—than those from South Melbourne. Mike and Pete have never shied away from questioning the game’s direction.

We dive into their early memories of South Melbourne FC, the club’s golden era, the NSL’s demise, the transition to the NPL, and what the future holds. Love them or hate them, their takes are raw, unfiltered, and essential listening for any Australian football fan.

very cool, youve given me something to look forward to listening this afternoon....

 

[melbcityguy]

I'll listen later I think the pod really helps the forum stand out if you can get more guests that would be great

 

[Decentric]

Only at the 20 min mark, as I listened in the car on the way to the beach - pleasant aspect of retirement!

Once again, great work Green and Gold Podcast team. Grazor, I think you are hosting it this time. Well done! You are losing your Aussie accent, mate! You are going to sound like an English toff soon!

Loving the discussion.

Really 20 years on from the AL inauguration, we need the entire football community in a structure with promo and releg - AL Div1, AL Div 2, NPL, suburban and country clubs.

I've played for one ethnic NPL club and coached at another. As one of the the guests suggests, it is an ethnic experience attending games at ethnic clubs. I love Greek and Italian food, which can be served at these matches. Have not tasted Croatian food - yet - but everybody who has travelled there has said the food is nice too.

Also, good points on the football hating media in Aus, including some media who are Eurosnobs. They constantly dredge up the aberrant behaviour of a few individuals who go to games to cause trouble. Then use it as a mechanism to try and denigrate an entire sport.

 

[LFC]

Only at the 20 min mark, as I listened in the car on the way to the beach - pleasant aspect of retirement!

Once again, great work Green and Gold Podcast team. Grazor, I think you are hosting it this time. Well done! You are losing your Aussie accent, mate! You are going to sound like an English toff soon!

Loving the discussion.

Really 20 years on from the AL inauguration, we need the entire football community in a structure with promo and releg - AL Div1, AL Div 2, NPL, suburban and country clubs.

I've played for one ethnic NPL club and coached at another. As one of the the guests suggests, it is an ethnic experience attending games at ethnic clubs. I love Greek and Italian food, which can be served at these matches. Have not tasted Croatian food - yet - but everybody who has travelled there has said the food is nice too.

Also, good points on the football hating media in Aus, including some media who are Eurosnobs. They constantly dredge up the aberrant behaviour of a few individuals who go to games to cause trouble. Then use it as a mechanism to try and denigrate an entire sport.

It is Grazor D.

Mate in bold what our side of the divide keep going on about, yes some from the A side agree but there isn't enough noise made about it imo, all should be jumping up and down.
Obviously you can only take one step at a time and even though something is set to move forward end of the NPL season its like extracting teeth from a elephant and everything takes so so long its keeps the game behind where it could be.

By the way GG Pod fellas.
Listenning to some local supporters as pod3 its good to hear from those on the ground normal plebs like us tbh.
You relate to that feeling/outlook and from another local perspective.
Getting a member interview as such (those who are happy doing so) makes for some light hearted listenning now and then - I can only take so much heavy overall football issues here and abroad.
Like a ref Muzza or NCB interview - lord help us a Mono one hahaha but know what I mean.
Obviously you need to not mention specifics where your from etc but thats up to the interviewee how far they go.
Just a suggestion no matter if too hard all good.

 

[Decentric]

Up to the 36 min mark. Have to leave again.

It would be great to recruit Mike and Pete to join G and G FC.

 

[Decentric]

It is Grazor D.

I know - very well it is Grazor, LFC.

Thanks though.

He texted me to let me know the Podcast is up and running. We know each other pretty well and have met in person.

 

[Decentric]

I'll listen later I think the pod really helps the forum stand out if you can get more guests that would be great

Agree.

It makes the forum stand out as a point of difference.

 

[LFC]

I know - very well it is Grazor, LFC.

Thanks though.

He texted me to let me know the Podcast is up and running. We know each other pretty well and have met in person.

well you did quote you thought it was him, ok cool.

 

[tsf]

Good on you for having controversial guests/different opinions.

One thing I will say about the whole 'plastic/franchise' malarky....ironically I actually think this is just as applicable to many old heads (and a chunk of hellas support).

For example, many are passionate supporters of UK clubs, despite no real connection to the club. The only reason they follow them is because they were essentially winners. yet they fork over cash for them for kits etc - could they be considered 'customers' ?

Where as you have young kids who started following the a-league and are now early 20s who grew up not knowing anything different. Can we call them plastics? What does a 11year old kid know about that?

TBH, I have no time for old v new - I like football, I think parts of NSL were cool, parts were crap...largely think the same with a-league but probably lean more towards its crap of late I would just love one day to see football as a whole here from bottom to top in a great position. However I doubt I will.

I completely hope for a second division and that existing clubs have the chance to compete at the top of Australian football.

 

[Decentric]

It is Grazor D.

- lord help us a Mono one hahaha but know what I mean.
.

Mono could be a guest describing all the things he loves about the A League!

Expert insights!

 

[tsf]

get mono on there

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

Up to the 36 min mark. Have to leave again.

It would be great to recruit Mike and Pete to join G and G FC.

Ill try.

 

[Decentric]

Ill try.

Do you know them, Mono?

Try hard if you do. Both are good value.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

Good on you for having controversial guests/different opinions.

One thing I will say about the whole 'plastic/franchise' malarky....ironically I actually think this is just as applicable to many old heads (and a chunk of hellas support).

For example, many are passionate supporters of UK clubs, despite no real connection to the club. The only reason they follow them is because they were essentially winners. yet they fork over cash for them for kits etc - could they be considered 'customers' ?

Where as you have young kids who started following the a-league and are now early 20s who grew up not knowing anything different. Can we call them plastics? What does a 11year old kid know about that?

TBH, I have no time for old v new - I like football, I think parts of NSL were cool, parts were crap...largely think the same with a-league but probably lean more towards its crap of late I would just love one day to see football as a whole here from bottom to top in a great position. However I doubt I will.

I completely hope for a second division and that existing clubs have the chance to compete at the top of Australian football.

Sure, regarding old heads supporting EPL or other clubs abroad... but it was NEVER (or at least not mostly) to the detriment of our local soccer club.... The term "eurosnob" at least to me means someone that is a Man City "supporter" despite never having any real connection bar youtube clips or merchandising and NOT a supporter of local club, be that Aleague OR NPL.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

Do you know them, Mono?

Try hard if you do. Both are good value.

spend most of my winters in the terraces with them both

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

Mono could be a guest describing all the things he loves about the A League!

Expert insights!

would be wrapped up in 2-3 minutes... what would I talk about for the rest of the hour?

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

get mono on there

Mike and Pete basically, "almost word for word" have explained pretty much every single post about football I have made on here.... Wouldnt really have that much to add. I would much rather hear from an Aleague fans perspective... perhaps another episode idea guys?

BTW Alex, fascinated to hear about the perception of Glory as "english".... probably the most surprising thing on here for me... again bravo... I catn find an emogi but take this as a standing ovation ......

I have to say well done to Alex and Grahame (and Pasquali) for the great listen.. Was very well put together and fairly inciteful. Obviosuly it echos my sentiments so not suprisign that I enjoyed.... Clubs, CLub, club club and ... club its the most important fundamental building block in getting us to have the footballing culture and outcomes we all want....